Building wall construction



June 1, 1943. W, H wlLLls 2,320,690

BUILDING WALL CONSTRUGTI ON Filed July so, 1946 Y 2 Sheets-Shet 1 71220612207: Wilmer 17. Willis.

June 1, 1943.. H, WILU'S 2,320,690

BUILDING WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed July so, v1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [/20e)? 20,-. Wilmer)?- Willis.

Patented June 1, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT O CE.

BUH DING WALL CONSTRUCTION Wilmer H. Willis, Los Angeles, Calif.Application July so, 1940, Serial No. 348,352

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to wall' construction for buildings andthe like, and more particularly to building blocks or bricks designedfor construction of composite brick and reenforced concrete walls.

'The general objects of the invention are'to provide a composite brickand reenforced concrete wall construction of greater inherent strengththan heretofore known, to provide a type of recessed brick which may belaid about and in interlocking relation with steel reenforcing bars withfacility and speed, and to provide a recessed brick construction whichwill permit rapid pouring or placement of the fill-in mortar, grout orconcrete.

The present invention provides a building block or brick having a recessor notch extending inwardly from one end, so that the brick may readilybe placed about previously erected vertical reenforcing bars. When theWall is assembled, these recesses also iorm vertical passageways throughthe staggered brick for passage and fill-in of mortar, grout, or thelike. The bricks are also recessed horizontally from end to end,

to provide both for horizontal reenforcing bars,

and for passage and fill-in of mortar or grout in a horizontaldirection. When the bricks are built into a wall, these several recessesform in-. tercommunicating vertical and horizontal passages forreception of the steel reenforcing bars and for the grout. The grout maybe poured or placed after laying each course, though the continuous andintercommunicating vertical and horizontal passages permit pouring afterany number of courses of the wall have been assembled, to obviousadvantage.

Other objects and accomplishments of my invention will appear and bedescribed in the course of the following detailed description of certainillustrative forms of my invention, reference for this purpose beingdirected to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of a preferred form of brick in accordance withthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective of a preferred form of corner brick inaccordance with the invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective of a portion of a wall formed of bricks of thetype of Figs. 1 and 2, the view showing a corner construction;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section through a wall formed ofbricks of the type of Figs. 1 and 2, the left hand end of the wall beingat a wall corner;

Fig. 5 is a modified type of brick in accordance with the invention; r

Fig. 6 shows a double thickness wall construction; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fi 6 but showing a modification. 1

The brick ID of Fig. 1 may be referred to as an intermediate brick todistinguish it from the corner construction brick I of Fig. 2. Thebricks l0 and II, which may be molded or cast of brick or tile clay, orof concrete, or the like, have certain general features in common, withcertain modifications in the instance of brick H to adapt it to therequirements of corner construction, as will appear. For convenience ofdescription and understanding, corresponding parts and features of theintermediate'and corner bricks l0 and H, respectively, will bedesignated by like reference numerals.

The bricks l0 and H are each ofv rectangular outline, and in theinstance of the preferred illustrative form of Figs. 1 and 2, arelongitudinally recessed on both upper and lower horizontal surfaces asindicated at l2, the recesses being preferably concavely curved as seenin transverse section. The recess l2 in the instance of brick lllextends from end to end of the brick, but in the instance of cornerbrick l I, the recess I2 is closed at one end of the brick by an endwall or flange 13. The longitudinally recessed bricks l0 and Il may beregarded as comprising longitudinal vertical side flanges I4 and anintermediate or central connecting web Hi, the web preferably, and ashere shown, being no thicker than substantially one-third the verticalheight of the block, so that the longitudinal recesses will becomparatively deep. The exterior surfaces Ma of flange M on one side ofthe bricks l0 and II may be grooved or roughened for plaster applicationand correspond to the interior face of the wall, while the exteriorsurface of the opposite fiange I4, as well as the exterior surface offlange I3 of brick ll, correspond to the exterior face of the wall,

and may be either plain or ornamentally mottied. a

Web [5 isnotched in from the end to form a recess as at l6, forapproximately, half the length of the brick, the recess wall beginningat the inside surfaces of flanges l4 and preferably tapering toward theinner end as illustrated. In the instance of corner brick H, the recessl6 of course is formed in the end of the brick opposite the end havingthe closure flange l3. Thus the bricks are adapted to straddle verticalreenforcing bars as shown in Fig. 3, and as will be de;- scribed later.Y i; The upper and lower surfaces of web I5 are preferably grooved orroughened so as to enhance bonding with interior mortar or grout, andare longitudinally tapered toward their recessed end, as seen invertical longitudinal section (Fig. 4). The web I5 of each brick ispreferably formed near the end remote from the recessed end with anaperture l8, for a purpose that will appear later.

One side flange I4 of corner brick I I is recessed at I9, immediatelyadjacent end flange I3, to provide for passage of a horizontalreenforcing bar 32, and also of mortar or grout, around the corner ofthe construction. Ribs 20 extending across recesses I9, at an elevationsuperior to webs I5, are adapted to support the horizontal reenforcingrods in spaced relation above webs l5 (see Fig. 4). The thicker ends ofwebs I5 also support the horizontal rods in position spaced above themajor portions of the webs.

Bricks I and H are both symmertical about a horizontal medial plane sothat they may be turned end over end for placement.

The procedure for constructing corner-abutting walls from the bricks ofFigs. 1 and 2 is as follows: Vertical reenforcing rods 25 are firsterected from the foundation 25, then the first courseof bricks is laidwith the notched ends straddling the vertical reenforcing bars and withtheir notches all facing in one direction for each wall. The bricks maybe set up dry, though it is preferred that they be set in mortar appliedat their edges as indicated at 21. The second course is then laid, withthe notched ends of the bricks facing in the opposite direction, andagain straddling the vertical rods 25, the bricks of the two coursesbeing placed in overlapping or staggered relation as shown. The methodof use of the corner bricks II will be clearly evident from Figs. 3 and4, alternate courses of each of the two abutting walls A and Bterminating in a corner brick II, abutted by an intermediate brick II)of the other course, as illustrated. Thus the end flange I3 of thecorner brick II of one wall is flush with the outside flange I4 of theadjacent intermediate brick I5 of 'the other wall, and the side recessesI9 of the corner bricks register with the longitudinal recesses I2 ofthe intermediate bricks of that other wall.

As will appear, the recessed ends of the bricks of the overlying coursesdefine vertical passages 30 extending vertically through the courses tofoundation 26, and in these vertical passages the vertical reinforcingrods 25 are positioned in spaced relation to the webs I5 and the flangesI4. Continuous horizontal passages 3i, intersecting the verticalpassages 30, are defined by the longitudinal recesses I2 in intermediatebricks I0 and corner bricks II, being continued around the corners ofthe abutting walls via the side recesses I9 in the corner bricks. Atsuitable vertically spaced intervals, horizontal reenforcing rods 32 arelaid in the horizontal passages, and are continued around the corners ofthe abutting walls A and B via the recesses I9 in the manner shown inFig. 3. The open longitudinal recesses I2 greatly facilitate theplacement of the horizontal rods- 32, which are simply laid in therecesses. These horizontal reenforcing rods 32 are supported above thefiangesli of corner bricks II by the aforementioned'ribs. 20 of thecorner bricks, and are supported above the surfaces of the webs I5 ofintermediate bricks I0 both by the ribs 20 of corner bricks I l, and bythe elevated edges 33 of the thick'ends .of the webs I5 of intermediatebricks (see Fig.4).

At any time during the construction of the wall, either after laying onecourse, or after laying a number of overlying courses, the continuousand intercommunicating vertical and horizontal passages 30 and 3| may befilled with concrete, preferably a free flowing cementitious grout. Thismay be poured from above into the vertical spaces 30 from which it flowsinto the horizontal spaces 3|, entirely surrounding both the verticaland horizontal reenforcing members, and bonding to the interior of thewebs l5 and flanges I4 of the bricks. The aforementioned apertures I8 inthe webs prevent the formation of air pockets below the webs and assurecomplete filling of the horizontal passages.

acterized by great inherent strength, and at the same time relativelyeasy as well as inexpensive to construct.

Fig. 5 shows a modified brick or block, consisting of side flanges I4and a deep longitudinal recess IS in its top side only, forming a web I5and a fiat bottom surface 40, the web again being preferably no thickerthan substantially onethird the height of the block. A notch I6 isformed in one end of web I5, corresponding to the notch l6 of the formsof Figs. 1 and 2. It will be evident that the form of Fig. 5 has incommon with the form of Fig. 1 a longitudinal recess extending from endto end, for the same purpose as the longitudinal recesses of the form ofFig. 1, and a recess in one end for passage of a vertical reenforcingbar, and for definition in conjunction with other bricks of theassembled wall of a vertical passage for the concrete or cementitiousfill. The form of Fig. 5 is especially adapted to the placement of theconcrete or cementitious or mortar fill following or during the layingof each course. Thus, having laid a course of such bricks as shown inFig. 5, the longitudinal recess I8 and the end recess I6 of each brickwill be filled in with the cementitious or mortar material. The nextcourse of bricks is then laid, and the flat bottom surfaces 40 of thebricks of that course come into contact with and bond to the materialfilled in the recesses l8 of the first mentioned course. The necessarymodification of the type of brick illustrated in Fig. 5 to form a cornerbrick will be obvious and need not be detailed.

Fig. 6 shows a wall construction of double thickness, constructed inthis instance of the type of brick shown in Fig. 5, and with cross tiesbetween the horizontal reenforcing bars of the two rows of bricks. Thetwo rows are each made up of bricks 45, properly spaced end to end formortar to be placed therebetween, and the two rows are spaced for mortaror a cementitious fill as illustrated. In this instance of Fig. 6, thebricks of the two rows are alined with one another, rather thanstaggered. Horizontal reenforcing bars extending through the recesses I8of the two rows of brick are indicated at 45, and the two bars 46 arehooked together by cross ties 47 at the joints between abutting bricks,the adjacent flanges I4 being notched or relieved at the corners asindicated at 48 to pass the rods 41. The vertical reenforcing rods,which are not illustrated in Fig. 6 for sake of simple illustration,bear the same relation to the bricks as in Figs. 3 and 4. i 1

Fig. 7 shows a modified double thickness wall construction, made up ofthe type of brick shown in Fig. 5, modified as to be described. Eachrowis again made up of bricks 50, placed end to end, with a suitablespacing therebetween for mortar, and the two rows are also preferablyspaced for cementitious fill or mortar, but the bricks of the two rowsare in this instance staggered, so that the joints between abuttingbricks of one row come midway of the bricks of the adjacent row.Horizontal reenforcing bars extending longitudinally of the recesses l8are indicated at 52, and these are hooked together by cross tiesindicated at 53. To provide for passage of the cross ties, the adjacentflanges [4' of the two rows of bricks are formed with recesses 54, whichpreferably terminate short of the ends of the brick in order to leaveportions of the flanges for support of the next course of brick above.

From the foregoing descriptions of doublewalled structures formed ofbricks of the form of Fig. 5, it will be apparent, without the necessityof detailed description, how such a double-walled structure may beformed with the bricks shown in Figs. 1 and 2, merely by notching theirside flanges to accommodate the cross ties.

While I have now described and illustrated certain present preferred andillustrative forms of my invention, it will be understood that this isfor illustrative purposes only, and that various changes in design,structure and arrangement may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention or of the apa pended claims.

I claim:

1. A wall construction comprising overlaid courses of building blocks,each said block having a longitudinal recess sunk in a horizontalsurface from end to end of the block so as to form two vertical sideflanges and a connecting web, and having a notch in and verticallythrough said web and extending inwardly to a substantial depth from theend of the block, the blocks of alternate courses being staggered andbeing laid with their notches facing in opposite directions, and thenotches in the blocks being of suflicient depth that when the blocks areso laid the notches in the blocks of each overlaid course aline with thenotches of the courses below it to form vertical passages, said webshaving high points at their ends remote from their recessed ends, thelongitudinal recesses in the blocks forming horizontal passagesintercommunicating with said vertical passages, vertical reenforcingbars in certain of said vertical passages, horizontal reenforcing barsin certain of said horizontal passages resting on said high points ofsaid webs, and mortar or the like filled in said vertical and horizontalpassages around said vertical and horizontal reenforcing bars and bondedto the surfaces of said blocks defining said vertical and horizontalpassages.

2. A wall construction embodying a building block of rectangular outlinehaving a longitudinal recess in a horizontal surface and extending fromend to end, so as to form two side flanges and a connecting web, andhaving a notch in said web extending inwardly from one end of the blockto a substantial depth, and a second building block of rectangularoutline having a longitudinal recess in a horizontal surface andextendmg from one end of the block to a point just short of the otherend of the block, so as to form two side flanges, an end flange, and aconnecting web, the first mentioned block being placed in an abuttingrelation to the side of the second block and in a position adjacent theflanged end of the second block, a notch in the side flange of thesecond block adjacent the end flange of said block, said notch comingopposite the end of the first block, a high point on the web of thesecond mentioned block at a position opposite said flange notch, ahorizontal reenforcing bar positioned in the pasageway formed by saidlongitudinal recesses in said blocks and said notch in the side flangeof the second block and supported by said high point on the Web of thesecond mentioned block at an elevationsuperior to the remainder of saidWeb, and the notches in the webs of said blocks forming verticalpassages for reception of vertical reenforcing bars and/or cementitiousgrout.

WILMER H. WILLIS.

